Oktoberfest begins!

September 17, 2011 6:24 PM

Photo: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images

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MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Three man wearing traditional Bavarian dresses chat during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Getty Images) less

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Three man wearing traditional Bavarian dresses chat during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. ... more

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: A general view shows a crowded beer tent during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. The world's biggest beer festival starts September 17 and runs until October 3, 2011. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** less

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: A general view shows a crowded beer tent during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. The world's ... more

Young visitors rest during the opening ceremony of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Sept.17, 2011. More than six million guests from around the world are expected to descend on the beer tents of Munich to celebrate Oktoberfest over the next 17 days. Last year's visitors consumed some 7.1 million 2-pint (1-liter) mugs of beer. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) less

Young visitors rest during the opening ceremony of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Sept.17, 2011. More than six million guests from around the world are ... more

Photo: Matthias Schrader, AP

Young visitors rest during the opening ceremony of the famous... Photo-1811253.32367 - SFGate

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People wait to enter a beer festival tent before the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich, southern Germany, on September 17, 2011. The 178th edition of the world's biggest beer festival which excepted to attract around six million visitors starts today and runs until October 3, 2011. AFP PHOTO/CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) less

People wait to enter a beer festival tent before the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich, southern Germany, on September 17, 2011. The 178th edition of the world's ... more

Photo: Christof Stache, AFP/Getty Images

People wait to enter a beer festival tent before the start of the... Photo-1811254.32367 - SFGate

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MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Traditionally Bavarian dressed members of a drummer group arrive for the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) less

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Traditionally Bavarian dressed members of a drummer group arrive for the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, ... more

Visitors lift up their beer steins after the official opening of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in a beer tent in Munich, southern Germany, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. The world's largest beer festival, runs from Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) less

Visitors lift up their beer steins after the official opening of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in a beer tent in Munich, southern Germany, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. The world's largest beer ... more

Photo: Matthias Schrader, AP

Visitors lift up their beer steins after the official opening of... Photo-1811256.32367 - SFGate

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A man from Australia dressed with traditional Bavarian clothes sleeps on a bench early in the morning before the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich, southern Germany, on September 17, 2011. The 178th edition of the world's biggest beer festival which excepted to attract around six million visitors starts today and runs until October 3, 2011. AFP PHOTO / KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND ++ GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND/AFP/Getty Images) less

A man from Australia dressed with traditional Bavarian clothes sleeps on a bench early in the morning before the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich, southern Germany, ... more

Visitors attend the first day at the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. The world's largest beer festival, to be held from Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, 2011 will see some million visitors. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) less

Visitors attend the first day at the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011. The world's largest beer festival, to be held from Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, ... more

Photo: Matthias Schrader, AP

Visitors attend the first day at the famous Bavarian... Photo-1811258.32367 - SFGate

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People stretch out to reach a beer mug in the Hofbraeuhaus-tent after the opening of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in a beer tent in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Sept.17, 2011. The world's largest beer festival runs from Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) less

People stretch out to reach a beer mug in the Hofbraeuhaus-tent after the opening of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in a beer tent in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Sept.17, 2011. The ... more

Photo: Matthias Schrader, AP

People stretch out to reach a beer mug in the Hofbraeuhaus-tent... Photo-1811259.32367 - SFGate

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A waitress serves beer mugs in a festival tent at the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich, southern Germany, on September 17, 2011. The 178th edition of the world's biggest beer festival which excepted to attract around six million visitors starts today and runs until October 3, 2011. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE (Photo credit should read CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP/Getty Images) less

A waitress serves beer mugs in a festival tent at the start of the Oktoberfest beer festival at the Theresienwiese ground in Munich, southern Germany, on September 17, 2011. The 178th edition of the world's ... more

Photo: Christof Stache, AFP/Getty Images

A waitress serves beer mugs in a festival tent at the start of the... Photo-1811260.32367 - SFGate

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MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Waitresses on in a horse coach are wave during the big entry for the opening of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) less

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Waitresses on in a horse coach are wave during the big entry for the opening of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. ... more

Visitors lift their beer mugs in the Hofbraeuhaus-tent after the opening of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in a beer tent in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Sept.17, 2011. The world's largest beer festival, to be held from Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, 2011 will see millions of visitors. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) less

Visitors lift their beer mugs in the Hofbraeuhaus-tent after the opening of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in a beer tent in Munich, southern Germany, on Saturday, Sept.17, 2011. The world's ... more

Photo: Matthias Schrader, AP

Visitors lift their beer mugs in the Hofbraeuhaus-tent after the... Photo-1811262.32367 - SFGate

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MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Traditionally Bavarian dressed members of a brass band arrive for the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) less

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Traditionally Bavarian dressed members of a brass band arrive for the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, ... more

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Men dressed with traditional Bavarian garments attend the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) less

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Men dressed with traditional Bavarian garments attend the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo ... more

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Revellers enjoy the view over the Oktoberfest from the top of the roof of a nearby house during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on September 17, 2011 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images) less

MUNICH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 17: Revellers enjoy the view over the Oktoberfest from the top of the roof of a nearby house during the opening day of the Oktoberfest 2011 beer festival at Theresienwiese on ... more